70 Years of Captivity in Babylon – Jeremiah Journey 2021 Week 25

Join us Wednesday at 11 AM PST for a live discussion of the latest chapter of the Jeremiah Journey

70 Years of Captivity in Babylon

This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11, ESV)

Among those who accept a tradition (Jeremiah 29:10) that the exile lasted 70 years, some choose the dates 608 to 538, others 586 to about 516 (the year when the rebuilt Temple was dedicated in Jerusalem). The Babylonian Exile (586–538) marks an epochal dividing point in Old Testament history

Source; Britannica

Photo by John-Mark Smith on Pexels.com

Putting controversy aside, what is not at debate is that the Lord allowed Israel and Judah to suffer and endure 70 years of captivity in Babylon. Jeremiah pointed out that it came about due to their lack of response to God’s message over the past 23 years.

The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), 2 which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem (vv. 1-2, ESV)

Ruling for 43 years, Nebuchadnezzar was the longest-reigning king of the Chaldean dynasty. According to Wikipedia, “By 601 BC, Judah’s king, Jehoiakim, had begun to openly challenge Babylonian authority, counting on that Egypt would lend support to his cause. . . Jehoiakim had died during Nebuchadnezzar’s siege and been replaced by his son, Jeconiah, who was captured and taken to Babylon, with his uncle Zedekiah installed in his place as king of Judah.”

Download the Bible Study Discussion Guide for Week #25 for FREE.

Daniel on Jeremiah’s 70- Year Prophecy

In the Bible this prophecy is also covered in Jeremiah 25 & 29 (Jeremiah 25:1-11; 29:1-10) and the Book of Daniel. The captivity came about due to the people’s failure to keep their covenant with God and not worship other gods. In other words, one transgression caused other transgressions: turning to other gods caused them to break their covenant and transgress further against God. Their refusal to repent and return to God only further fueled God’s “fierce anger” to burn against them.

Daniel wrote: “In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus … I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem” (Daniel 9:1-2). (Source: Lifehopeandtruth)

Although there might be debate over the exact years of captivity, some biblical sources provide support and explanation for the discrepancy. The following passage gives some insight into how the years were calculated.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary states the following: “Note that it is important to keep these stages of the Captivity in mind when computing the seventy years of exile announced by Jeremiah 29:10; the interval between the first deportation in 605 B.C., in which Daniel himself was involved, and 536 B.C., when the first returnees under Zerubbabel once more set up an altar in Jerusalem, amounted to seventy years. Likewise, the interval between the destruction of the first temple by Nebuzaradan in 586 and the completion of the second temple by Zerubbabel in 516 was about seventy years” (comments on Daniel 1:1-2).

https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/understanding-the-book-of-daniel/daniel-9/

Jeremiah Journey Bible Study Discussion Guide Week 25Download

Read Full Post »

Detox Challenge Day 3

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…”

daniel 1:8 (NKJV)

Photo by Joshimer Biu00f1as on Pexels.com

Day 2 Reflection

Reflecting on Day 2, I had to truly rely on my purpose. I snacked on raw almonds and ate a hearty salad, but I felt content despite some temptations. I am a chocolate lover and the idea of not being able to grab one of those chocolate and mint or even chocolate and peanut butter energy bars seemed to nag at me at various times throughout the day. I went back to Daniel 1:8 and my purpose. That fed me throughout the day with a mix of mini cardio and strength training sessions. Thank God for Him supplying strength through His Word.

Focus on Faith

Today we focus on Daniel’s commitment to remain undefiled during Live @ Lunch Bible Study. Our biblical focus is Daniel 1:1-16. We look at what Daniel was both refusing and requesting regarding his daily provisions. What we tend to see is that those ten days might have been a test, but I can only imagine how much personal strength and confidence it took for Daniel to even take the risk to make his request known to his captors. I want to keep my focus on my faith as a part of my detox journey.

Focus on Fuel

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bruce Jackson (@revbrucej)

I got to mix things up a little bit today. The vegetarian chili was a great kickstart to this 10-Day Detox Challenge, but I am itching for something else. I might roast some broccoli and cauliflower with some quinoa or brown rice plus a hearty salad of mixed greens. That sounds like a plan.

Focus on Fitness

This morning I kicked off my workday with a brief session of modified pushups and stretches. I tend to take the first 10 minutes of my day doing my AM workout and downing at least 10 ounces of water. By organizing my fitness breaks throughout the day, I have managed to keep my energy level up to par and I have been able to push through some periods of the day that usually found me looking for a nap or midday siesta.

This has been a great time to mix up my workouts, too. Last night’s breathing exercises and stretching yoga poses settled me in for a good night’s rest and got me in a comfortable place for just sleeping through the night. If I keep this up with daily fitness breaks, I will find myself in an entirely different place come Christmas Eve at the end of this 10-Day Detox Challenge.

“Success is costly.”

A.w. tozer

Read Full Post »

Detox Challenge Day #2

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. – Psalms 119:9

Day 1 Reflection

I considered yesterday a success. Why do I say so? I found myself satisfied and sustained, not looking for food to fill or kill a craving, In some cases, I had enough leftovers to plan out the next day’s meal options. I will take it as a win, including the time that I was able to work in walking and working out during my mini ten-minute breaks.

Today’s Focus

Focus on Faith

I am careful to put my focus on necessities right now. One of those necessities is to be washed in the Word, cleansed the sense where I am feeling regenerated and renewed. I reflect back to when I read The Unusual Suspect by Stephen Baldwin. That gave me some real, in-your-face rugged and radical Christianity. I could hardly put that book down. Today, I cling to God’s Word with that same desire and determination that once caused me to read the New Testament epistles daily.

Focus on Fuel

Yesterday, I consumed a bulk of legumes and nuts. I technically filled up on them early enough to not have to worry about any other snacks. Today, I am determined to add more fruit to breakfast and lunch. Dinner might include some additional leafy greens like kale and arugula mixed as a salad base.

Focus on Fitness

I liked squeezing in 10-minute breaks yesterday. It kept me on my toes. Today, my main adjustment is to start and end my work-from-home day with breaks as my bookends. One will open up my workday, while the other will act as the closure for it. I will add a bit of stretching and some yoga positions for breathing and digestion. The beauty of such a schedule is that I have total creative control over it.

A good example is the best sermon.

Benjamin franklin

Read Full Post »